Press & Op-Eds
“Amid a debate about how we can best achieve community safety, and reacting to concerns surrounding both public safety and police killings that have disproportionately devastated Black communities, many are alleging a tension between efforts that would tackle racial injustice and efforts that would potentially reduce violence.“
“Over these last few months, some lawmakers have been clamoring to pass new “public safety” bills that would pour more resources into police departments nationwide. These lawmakers point to crime rates and fears that violence is increasing. At almost no point, though, have we heard anyone ask a basic question: If our goal is to keep families and communities safe, will these investments work? And what do communities actually want?“
Podcasts & Videos
Hailing from the vibrant city of Chicago, Reagan’s journey is a testament to the power of narrative, both written and lived, in igniting movements and catalyzing change.
Watch the Community Safety press conference.
An interview with WABE on retail theft fact and fiction.
“At this week’s Round Table, Hannah, Inyoo, Jack, and Kenisha spoke with Thea Sebastian, Director of Policy for Civil Rights Corps, as well as the founding Director of the Futures Institute. In her role, Thea oversees a wide range of initiatives that include policy changes related both to advancing community safety and building cradle-to-career youth opportunity. One of her current projects involves building a cross-disciplinary Futures Agenda, which aims to be a Green New Deal for youth.“
“On the finale of the Vision for Justice miniseries, our guest host, Monifa Bandele, Movement for Black Lives Leadership Team, reimagines public safety with Thea Sebastian, Director of Policy, Civil Rights Corps, Alphonso David, President of Human Rights Campaign, and Eunisses Hernandez, Executive Director and Co-founder of La Defensa..“
“In this episode, we talk to Thea Sebastian, Director of Policy at Civil Rights Corps, and Sam Washington, Policy Associate at Civil Rights Corps. Sebastian and Washington explore the deep connections between affordable housing and safety for individuals and families and discuss why Civil Rights Corps joined the OSAH campaign’s Roundtable and participated in the campaign’s recent sign-on letter supporting the campaign’s housing priorities. They also examine the ways safety, racial equity, and housing are connected and share additional resources for learning about housing and safety.“
This teach-in, held on July 22, 2021, spotlights the introduction of The People’s Response Act—a ground-breaking bill that would create a new paradigm for resourcing evidence-based community safety nationwide. The panel discusses the need for this legislation, as well as the evidence on prevention-oriented safety.
This panel discusses how states can promote community safety by using non-carcera first responders who replace police officers when the underlying crisis is connected to mental or behavioral health. Panelists include Thea Sebastian, Policy Director, Civil Rights Corps; Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, 1st Hampshire District, Massachusetts House of Representatives; and Sen. Robert Peters — Illinois State Senate.
A teach-in on the public health aspects of the People’s Response Act
Art & Poetry
Take Me to Paradise: A Poem for the 2021 People’s Response Act | A Poem By Faylita Hicks
Take me to Paradise
Where I always shine
Where the light is mine
Take me to Paradise
At the tip of the mountain
Let my light climb….
Paradise: Where I am, first, a person. Second, a dream— the wildest one of my ancestors—and I’m thriving.
Paradise: Where I am recognized as someone who is loved before I am recognized as someone’s lesson to be learned.
…
